By Brandon Evans | Published Sunday, October 18, 2009
A tour of the locker rooms and showers at Bridgeport High School not only introduces one to the pungent funk of sweat-soaked pads, it also reveals a lack of space for student athletes.
Lockers that were meant to be single-stacks have been double-stacked in the varsity locker room. In the dressing rooms, shower stalls are being used as extra storage space. Kids have to move mats and other items out before taking showers.
Athletic director Danny Henson has worked at the high school since it was built in the early 1990s. He said when he first started, there was plenty of room in the locker and dressing rooms, but increased participation in athletics over the years has made for tight quarters.
"The varsity locker room was designed for 46 people originally," Henson said. "It is now up to 61."
Subvarsity athletes have squeezed in the same locker room with the varsity players due to high participation.
The weight room is also very crowded. There have been a couple of minor injuries to athletes due to the tight quarters.
The above scenarios are some of the issues to be tackled if voters within Bridgeport ISD decide to approve two bond proposals on the November ballot. The first bond totals $15 million. It will be used to build and modify facilities at the high school and intermediate school. If passed, the funds will be used for the following:
High school:
- 10 new classrooms - four new science labs - expanded seating in cafeteria - new band hall - convert old band hall to athletic dressing rooms - build a new gym/special events center that will seat up to 1,480 people - replacement of HVAC units
Intermediate School:
- 10 new classrooms - a new physical education building - reconfiguration of the student drop-off/pick-up area
Voters will also get to decide on a second bond package. Totals $7 million and will be used for technology upgrades to the district.
It will provide all students in grades six through 12 with computers and will create laptop labs for students in grades pre-K through five.
Teachers at Bridgeport High School said the laptops and the science labs would make valuable instruction tools.
Math teacher Mary Frech has been an instructor for 35 years. She said computers are necessary to teach in today's world.
"It's the way kids learn now," Frech said. "This is the learning environment of today.
"One hundred years ago a slate and a piece of chalk was enough."
But times change. Frech visited Childress High School earlier this year. They have instituted a one-to-one plan like Bridgeport is considering.
She said it made for a new and engaging learning experience. For example, in one class students completed math homework at night in an online group environment. It piqued student interest in solving math problems.
Travis Whisenant, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said the additions of the science labs will help the school comply with state requirements.
"The state has mandated an additional fourth year science course with a lab for all students," Whisenant said. "And 40 percent of course time must be spent in the lab."
Calculus teacher Rosalinda Scott uses various experiments to engage her students in problem solving. She loses valuable teaching time moving back and forth from the classroom to the lab.
If the bond passes, the new science labs would allow room for both lectures and experiments.
Superintendent Eddie Bland cited growth in the student body as another reason to pursue additions to the facilities.
The high school and intermediate school are at or near capacity right now. Portable buildings are being used to house students. The new classrooms would increase student capacity at the high school by 200.
This is the second time in six months Bridgeport ISD has attempted to pass a bond election. In May 2009, a bond package totaling $36 million was narrowly defeated. The bond failed by a 19-vote margin, 364-345.
To improve the results, the school board slashed $14 million off the bond total.
Do you support or oppose the bond? The deadline to submit a letter to the editor on the issue is Friday, Oct. 23. Go to http://www.wcmessenger.com/submit/letter.php to send in your letter. Please keep it 400 words or less.
